Juan Manuel Marquez: Manny Pacquiao Should Fight Him

Juan Manuel Marquez scored an impressive win over Juan Diaz in their second matchup.

He won both fights.

Marquez said a third fight against Pacquiao is more important than trying to dominate the lightweight division, in which he's still the champ.

He believes that the Mexican and Filipino fans want to see that fight more than a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather bout.

This isn't the time for Pacquiao to challenge a red-hot Marquez.

If there was any doubt the first time around, Marquez outboxed and outclassed Diaz again.

In the first fight, Diaz was the aggressor, which related to his nickname, the "Baby Bull."

Marquez was backed against the ropes by Diaz in that match last year, but he fought his way out.

The combinations by Marquez landed to Diaz's head every time he leaned in.

An adjustment by Diaz in last month's fight took him away from his slugging style.

His trainer wanted to make a boxer out of him, but it didn't work.

Marquez is a technical boxer, and it showed.

Uppercuts by Marquez shook Diaz in the fourth round.

What I liked about that round also was that announcers Jim Lampley and Emanuel Steward didn't talk for one minute and 38 seconds.

They let the grunts by both boxers and the sound of the gloves do the talking.

Marquez threw combo punches at Diaz in the sixth, but he couldn't tee up on his moving opponent.

It's hard to hit a moving target.

In the ninth round, Diaz was rocked with combinations from Marquez and wobbled and clenched.  He even had his lip busted.

That aggressive style for Diaz came a little bit too late in the last rounds.

Lampley thinks Marquez is a better offensive fighter than Pacquiao.

Steward says Marquez can take and give punches.

To all boxing fans, which matchup would be better for Pacquiao:  a red-hot Marquez or a rusty Mayweather?

If Pacquiao had his preference of fighters in order, it would be Mayweather first followed by a lower-tier fighter.

The Marquez vs. Pacquiao deal may never get done, as long as Golden Boy and Top Rank are at odds with each other.

It should be no problem for Marquez to put on some extra pounds to accommodate Pacquiao's catchweight demand.

Marquez fought a heavier Mayweather, who paid a big fine for being over the weight limit.

As for now, Marquez wishing to take on Pacquiao is just a dream.

There are several fighters who also want a piece of the Pac Man.